PRESS NEWS - THE RECOVERY OF A ZARZUELA. Our heritage on the rise

THE RECOVERY OF A ZARZUELA. Our heritage on the rise

The orchestra director and musical researcher Joaquín de la Cuesta, presents in the RCSMM Library, the recovery and critical edition of a forgotten zarzuela by the Master. Alonso and the poet Ardavín: Manuelita Rosas. This work from the 1930s and commissioned by the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, since Alonso was highly appreciated in Argentina, never premiered there.

At the proposal of CEDOA (SGAE) and its director María Luz González, De la Cuesta, together with the North American publisher Willemsmusiik and its CEO Tristan Willems, have prepared a modern edition on the manuscripts of the musical score and libretto preserved in the immense archive musical of the SGAE.

Joaquín de la Cuesta, specialized in Spanish symphonic and concert music of the 19th century and first third of the 20th century, believes that “all Spanish music from that time should become fashionable again.” The orchestra director also comments that “the recovery, editing, dissemination and listening in concert halls of many Spanish symphonic works, as well as chamber orchestra or zarzuela works, should be an almost obligatory part of the programming of Spanish orchestras, although leaving out of the usual and mostly internationally known Spanish composers.”

The recovery of this work is a magnificent example of 20th century zarzuela, where the grace of Alonso's Spanish rhythms and melodicism intermingle with the linguistic turns and some Argentine musical traditions, outlined by Ardavín, and so fashionable. in the first third of the century, here and across the pond. The theme of Alonso and Ardavín's work is supported by historical events from the mid-19th century in Argentina, and has its plot in the classic love affair common in many classic opera or zarzuela plots that are well known to all.

Together with Willemsmusiik, De la Cuesta had already recovered, in 2022, an important Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in B Major from 1879, by the Canarian composer Teobaldo Power (1848-84), (author of the current Anthem of the Canary Community), although not released in Spain, another musical presentation of an edition on some Spanish Symphonies-Overtures from the 19th century is pending. Furthering the dissemination of our musical heritage, next autumn, the Spanish director will go to Prague to record Spanish music with the Czech National Orchestra.

For Joaquín de la Cuesta, “our musical heritage is enormous and has nothing to envy or detract from much of the European musical literature of great composers of those years. Recovering it and making it heard again and valued by the public is up to us. Let's not wait to work in that direction on the part of all those involved in the Spanish symphonic world."